Motor drive having dual inverter system connected to first and second stator sections

Abstract

A linear propulsion system and method of assembling and testing the same. The linear propulsion system may comprise a track, a vehicle, a mover mounted to the vehicle, and a dual inverter system. The track may include a first plurality of stator sections interleaved with a second plurality of stator sections. The dual inverter system may include first and second multi-phase inverters ( 52 a, 52 b ) that share input hardware.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear propulsion system comprising:
 a track comprising a first plurality of stator sections and a second plurality of stator sections, the second plurality interleaved between the first plurality, each stator section including frame and a plurality of coils mounted on the frame, each stator section having an activated state and a deactivated state; 
 a vehicle; 
 a mover functionally mounted to the vehicle and disposed adjacent to the track, the mover including a plurality of magnets; and 
 a dual inverter system operably connected to each of the stator sections, the dual inverter system including:
 first and second multi-phase inverters, the first inverter operably connected to the first plurality of stator sections, the second inverter operably connected to the second plurality of stator sections; and 
 a controller operably connected to the first and second multi-phase inverters, 
 
 wherein a propulsion force on the vehicle is generated when the mover is adjacent to one or more of the stator sections in the activated state. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the mover is about the same or shorter than the stator section. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , in which the mover includes permanent magnets. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , in which stator section includes a plurality of subsections arranged consecutively, each subsection including a plurality of coils, wherein a length of the mover is longer than each subsection but shorter than the stator section. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , in which the dual inverter system further includes input hardware shared by and operably connected to the first and second multi-phase inverters. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , in which the input hardware includes a filter. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , in which the input hardware includes a pre-charge circuit that limits the initial current received by the first and second inverters from a power source. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , in which the input hardware includes an AC to DC converter. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 5 , in which the input hardware includes a DC-link capacitor. 
     
     
       10. An elevator system comprising:
 the linear propulsion system of  claim 1 ; 
 wherein the vehicle comprises a car; 
 input hardware disposed between a power source and each of the first and second multi-phase inverters, the input hardware shared by the first and second multi-phase inverters; and
 wherein when the first inverter is activated, a first stator section in the first plurality is energized and the interaction between the mover and the first stator section generates a propulsion force on the car in a vertical direction, and when the second inverter is activated, a second stator section in the second plurality is energized and the interaction between the mover and the second stator section generates a propulsion force on the car in a vertical direction. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein, during propulsion of the car in a segment, the hardware utilization of the input hardware is in the range of about 95% to 100%. 
     
     
       12. The elevator system of  claim 10 , in which each stator section includes subsections, wherein a length of the mover is longer than each individual subsection. 
     
     
       13. The elevator system of  claim 10 , in which the input hardware includes sensors. 
     
     
       14. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein, when power is received from the first multi-phase inverter, a first stator section of the first plurality is activated but none of the second plurality of stators sections is activated. 
     
     
       15. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein, when power is received from the second multi-phase inverter, a second stator section of the second plurality is activated but none of the first plurality of stator sections is activated. 
     
     
       16. The elevator system of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of switches in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the stator sections, each switch disposed between the dual inverter system and one of the stator sections, each switch moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when the switch is in the closed position, the stator section is activated. 
     
     
       17. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein the mover includes permanent magnets. 
     
     
       18. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein the length of the mover is the same or shorter than each stator section. 
     
     
       19. The elevator system of  claim 10 , wherein each stator section comprises three subsections.